Unanimity by Alexandra Almeida | Book Review ~ Hard Science Fiction | 4-Stars
A book blog tour from The Write Reads.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and Dave & the Gang at The Write Reads for providing me with the information for this tour, and a big thank you to Noly for designing and creating the banner!
Book Details
Unanimity by Alexandra Almeida Series: Spiral Worlds, #1, #1
Published by Spiral Worlds on 10/18/2022
Genres: Fiction, Metaphysical, Science Fiction
Format: eBook, Paperback
Pages: 570
Source: Received from the author or publisher for review., The Write Reads ToursThe road to hell is paved with good intentions.
SERIES STORY
Shadow is a reluctant god with a broken mind and a death wish. He used to be Thomas Astley-Byron, an affluent young screenwriter whose creativity and idealism saved a world from the brink of collapse.Together with Henry Nowak, an AI expert, Tom created heaven on earth by inventing a Jungian simulated reality that helps humans confront their dark sides. The benevolent manipulation platform turned the two unelected leaders into beloved gods, but now everything is failing. The worlds suffer as a sentimental Tom descends into his own personal hell, becoming the embodiment of everything he despises and a shadow of his former self.
His journey from an optimistic, joyful Tom to a gloomy Shadow is paved with heartache and sinister interference from emerging technology. Humans and bots fight for his heart, but their aims differ: some want to own it, some to dissect it, and others to end its foolish beat. Still, the biggest threat comes from within—none of the sticky stories that steer Tom’s life end well.
Who’s pulling on Shadow’s heartstrings? Are their intentions malign or benign? It’s all a matter of perspective, and Shadow has none left.
Now, a young goddess—Estelle Ngoie—has been appointed to replace him, and unlike Shadow, Stella takes no prisoners, and her heart bleeds for no one.
SERIES THEMES
An epic tale spanning six days—one per book—and forty past decades of life lived across ten worlds and two universes.Weaving hard sci-fi elements with social commentary and queer romantic suspense, Spiral Worlds explores the nature of consciousness and how it's connected to a not-so-secret ingredient—story. As software consumes the world, intelligence is nothing but the appetizer; the human heart is the main course.
If you’re looking for perfect heroes and clear villains, move right along. There is no black or white in this story about a contrast-making machine.
"Great for fans of: Becky Chambers’s A Closed and Common Orbit; Daniel Suarez’s Daemon."
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Purchase Links for Unanimity
Amazon – OneLink for every country
Unanimity (Spiral Worlds Bo...Shop on Amazon
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My thoughts on Unanimity
Unanimity immerses the reader in an alternate world that is uniquely engaging and simultaneously terrifying.
Who decides the difference between heaven and hell when souls can be resurrected to exist in an alternative digital world? I am quite sure one person’s heaven can easily be another’s hell.
This hard science fiction novel has a bit of a cyberpunk feel to me. I was a little slow to feel my way into this story, but I was hooked once I wrapped my head around the premise and the spiral worlds.
The characters and worlds are so well-written that Unanimity played in my mind like a movie. Every scene and every word is used to further the story, making it a mesmerizing tale that is difficult to put down.
I’m having difficulty putting my thoughts down on paper for this one. Unanimity is a story that needs to be read to understand and develop your take on it. I feel like it’s a book that will mean different things to each reader. Where you are in your life journey will dictate what you think and feel about the Spiral Worlds.
I received a copy of the book for the tour. This review is my honest, unbiased opinion.
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About Alexandra Almeida
Alexandra Almeida has over 25 years of experience in technology, strategy, and innovation. In her role as Chief Transformation Officer, she acts as a senior advisor to enterprise executives. Alexandra is an experienced speaker at events such as SXSW and the Women in Tech Series.
For the time being, and to protect her creative freedoms, Alexandra prefers to write using a number of pen names.
Her debut fantasy novel, released under another pen name, has received the following awards and recognition:
- Reader’s Favorite Awards - Gold Medal Winner - Young Adult - Fantasy - Epic
- Reader Views Awards - 1st Place - Fantasy
- CIPA EVVY Book Awards - 2nd Place - Fiction - Mythology
- R.A.G. Medallion Recipient
- Eric Hoffer’s Da Vinci Eye Awards Finalist for Best Cover Artwork
- The Wishing Shelf Book Awards Finalist - Books for Adults
- Awesome Indies Approved
Following the self-publishing path by choice to retain full control of her IP, Alexandra invests in the best editors available in the business to match publishing quality standards.
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Purchase Unanimity online from a local bookstore.
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Easy Amazon Info Link
Amazon – OneLink for every country
If the above link does not take you to your country, here are a few more:
Amazon – Canada
Amazon – France
Amazon – Germany
Amazon – United Kingdom
If your country isn’t listed and you would like to purchase using my links, please send me a note. Using my link does not change the price you pay. Amazon pays me a minimal amount out of their share.
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